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Aborigines, Elkin and the Guided Projectiles Project

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Aborigines, Elkin and the Guided Projectiles Project ABORIGINES, ELKIN AND THE GUIDED PROJECTILES PROJECT Geoffrey Gray The Chifley Labor government announced on 19 November 1946 that they had agreed to the British government's request that a guided projectile range be established in the 'largely' uninhabited spaces of Central Australia: 'except for a few pastoral leases at the firing point end in South Australia, the Central Australian Aboriginal Reserves and a few more pastoral leases adjacent to the Ninety Mile Beach in Western Australia, the area of the range and that which it is proposed to reserve for eventual extensions, is largely uninhabited'.1 There was some concern over the effect this development would have on Aborigines living in the area and the encroachment on the nearby Central Australian Aboriginal Reserve. The Guided Projectiles Project Committee was formed originally to oversee the testing arrangements of the rocket range but it had no interest in the welfare of Aborigines living in the testing area. A.P.Elkin was asked to join the Australian Guided Projectiles Committee to, in the words of his biographer, 'allay public fears that the Aborigines would be at risk'.2 Elkin was aware that his appointment could be misrepresented and to avoid any accusations of collusion he suggested that the government invite the Australian National Research Council (ANRC) to nominate an anthropological expert. Naturally he would be nominated.3 Elkin used his influence and authority to advocate and support the government's decision despite the apparent dangers inherent to Aboriginal welfare if a rocket range was established within the boundaries of the Central Australian Aboriginal Reserve. In return for his support Elkin required that the government provide adequate safeguards for Aborigines living within the area of the rocket range.There is enough evidence to suggest that Elkin believed that it was best to leave Aborigines in their 'traditional' areas and that they could find work in the pastoral industry.4 Further there is reference to the protection of sacred Geoffrey Gray has recently completed his MA. Thesis at Monash University on A.P.Elkin and his authority with government in the 1940s. His current interest is anthropology and assimilation. 1 J.J.Dedman, Minister for Defence. Statement to the House of Representatives, 22 November 1946. 2 Wise 1985:199. 3 Ibid. 4 Berndt and Berndt 1987:32. Elkin asked the Berndts to 'study the social and psychological reasons’ if Aborigines are 'not forthcoming' and to advise Vesteys on 'ways of improving the conditions and attitudes’. The aim, and this appears fundamental to all, except the Berndts, was to build up 'a contented [A]boriginal community in the regions in which they are accustomed, and around the Pastoral Industry which they like'. Implicit in Elkin’s suggestion is that Aborigines are of value only within their locality and should not be encouraged to leave their areas and they were to remain an underclass providing cheap labour for the pastoral industry. 153 ABORIGINAL HISTORY 1991 15:2 sites in the recommendations of the GPP Committee.5 Elkin was acceptable to government because he was reliable in the sense that his actions and purpose in matters relating to Aboriginal welfare were consistent and he was reluctant to criticise the government publicly. The Guided Projectiles Project provides a demonstration of his reliability. It illustrates firstly, the way in which he used his authority and influence, and how the government, in particular, relied upon this, and secondly, the problems of contact and change and the relationship between anthropology and the interests of the 'colonisers'. There was no question for Elkin that Australia needed to have the guided projectiles experiments in Australia; it was a 'duty to Empire’. Both sides of the Parliament accepted it. Initially the problem was not with adequate safeguards for Aborigines, rather it was whether there were adequate safeguards against subversion, intrusion and espionage by Communists and fellow travellers. The Minister for Defence, J.J.Dedman, asserted that the area was largely uninhabited and that the risk to Aborigines was negligible: 'the probability of a missile falling on them would be extremely remote.'6 He gave an undertaking, after opposition gathered public support, that the government would do 'everything possible to safeguard the [Ajborigines from contact, or encroachment on any area of special significance to them’.7 These assurances and others given by politicians were not readily accepted by the various groups concerned with Aboriginal welfare and opposed to the creation of the project.8 Opposition to the Project was led by Mrs Maurice Blackburn, an independent MHR, Dr Charles Duguid, an Adelaide surgeon and a leader of the Presbyterian Church, and Dr Donald Thomson. On 16 December 1946 Mrs Blackburn put on Notice the following motion: That in the opinion of this House: 1. the proposal to establish a rocket bomb testing range in Central Australia is an act of injustice to a weaker people who have no voice in ordering their own lives; it is a betrayal of our responsibility to guard the human rights of those who cannot defend themselves; and a violation of the various charters that have sought to bring world peace; and 2. such action is against the interests of the people of the Commonwealth.^ Public criticism led the government to co-opt new members onto the Guided Projectiles Project Committee. It was hoped, wrote F.G.Shedden, Secretary, Department of Defence, to the Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, the new constitution of the Committee would bring about a satisfactory solution to the question of safeguards for Aborigines 'before the House meets and an adequate answer to any further criticism'.10 The new members were Elkin, F.J.Moy* 11 (Director of Native Affairs, NT), 3 See pp.3-4 this paper. 6 Hansard, 22 November 1946, statement to the House of Representatives. 7 Ibid. 8 See Wilson 1980 for the coalition of groups opposed to the GPP. ^ Hansard, 6 March 1947:435. 10 Shedden to Chifley, 31 January 1947, quoted in Japanangka and Nathan 1983. 11 Moy and Elkin shared a dislike of Donald Thomson's views about native' welfare; they concurred in their views on assimilation. Moy wrote to Elkin in 1947 that 'the matter of preserving tribal institutions and customs within the framework of our society...savours too much of keeping a live museum and there are certain of our friends who dread the 154 ABORIGINES, ELKIN AND THE GUIDED PROJECTILES PROJECT A.O.Neville12 (retired Chief Protector of Aborigines, and representative of the Western Australian government), and W.R.Penhall (Secretary of the Aborigines Protection Board, SA). The selection of these people ensured the acceptance of the project. Duguid and Thomson were appointed as non-voting consultants.13 Wise claims Elkin was prepared to provide support for the Project in return for the following safeguards: a patrol officer to regulate contacts, protection of sacred sites, no transfer of Aborigines from place to place, no Aborigines to be used for labour, and airstrips to be used rather than roads.14 This was agreed upon and Native Patrol Officer Walter MacDougall was appointed.15 Elkin then made no further protest to the government.16 Both Duguid and Thomson, who had been appointed as consultants to the Committee in an attempt to weaken their protest and to compromise their arguments, 'realised that reason and argument would have no effect against closed minds (of the Committee). The military mind was made up long ago’.17 Duguid clearly placed Elkin with the military's 'closed minds'. Two months later, on 31 March 1947, in an address delivered at the Melbourne Town Hall, Charles Duguid accused Elkin of changing position; detailing the composition of the Committee and the members co-opted specifically to examine the problem of contact with the Aborigines he said of Elkin that he was in close touch with the thought of the Australian [A]boriginal becoming a normal citizen - one in particular would miss [Thomson's] occasional ill-informed articles in the Melbourne Herald.' (Moy to Elkin, 17 July 1947, AA:CRS, item 52/570). 11^ 9Elkin- wrote the foreword to Neville's Australia's coloured minority, 1947. Neville recognised Elkin’s authority, and both shared the belief that the Empire's defence against external threats was important. 13 Composition of the Australian Guided Projectiles Committee: Major-General L.E.Beavis, Chairman (representing the Department of Defence), Commander N.K.Coldser (representing the Department of the RAN), Wing-Commander A.G.Pither (representing the RAAF), N.K.S.Brodribb (Department of Munitions), F.W.G.White (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research). The following appointments were made in response to the public outcry over Aboriginal welfare and safety: F.H.Moy (Director, Department of Native Affairs, NT), W.R.Penhall (Secretary of the Aborigines Protection Board, SA), A.O.Neville (representing the WA government), A.P.Elkin (ANRC), L.F.Loder (Director-General, Department of Housing), Lieutant-General J.F.Evetts (representing the British Long Range Weapons Organisation). Two consultants were appointed: Dr Charles Duguid, Dr Donald Thomson. 14 Wise 1985:200. 15 Charles Duguid maintained that the only so-called 'achievement' of twelve months sustained protest was the appointment of McDougall; McDougall had earned the respect of the Aboriginal people whilst an employee at Emabella Mission. It was his task to provide care and protection of the Reserve’s Aborigines and also to issue warnings regarding the firing of missiles. 16 Such behaviour by Elkin typifies of the way he worked. 17 Duguid 1947:12. 155 ABORIGINAL HISTORY 1991 15:2 Federal Government through the Australian National Research Council...[and] admits he has changed his views regarding the effect of sudden contacts between white people and Aborigines since the Rocket Range was first discussed.
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